BCCI reacts after Tigers go on strike ahead of India tour

FE Team | Published: October 22, 2019 23:20:08

NEW DELHI, Oct 22 (PTI): Bangladesh's upcoming tour of India was on Monday thrown into jeopardy after national team players refused to participate in any cricketing activity until their demands, including a hike in salary, are met.
The boycott plan was announced by the country's top players such as Test and T20 captain Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim at a press conference here. Nearly 50 players are part of the protest.
A boycott of any cricket activity for the foreseeable future will have an immediate impact on the National Cricket League, currently in progress. The action could also jeopardise the training camp for next month's tour of India and possibly the tour itself.
During the tour starting November 03, Bangladesh are scheduled to play three T20 Internationals and two Test matches as part of the World Championship.
"We have to respect the local coaches, physios, trainers and groundsman. They get really a little amount of salary at the end of the month," senior opener Tamim Iqbal said on behalf of the players at the press conference.
The camp was supposed to start this week with the team's spin consultant Daniel Vettori in attendance.
India responded with a guarded statement, calling Bangladesh's internal matter.
"The BCCI will wait and watch the developments closely. This is an internal matter of the Bangladesh Cricket Board and until and unless we hear from them, there is no need for us to make any comments," a senior BCCI functionary told the news agency.
However, many in the Indian Cricket Board feel that President-elect Sourav Ganguly's cordial relations with both players and officials in Bangladesh cricket might help in salvaging the situation.
"There is a Test match in Kolkata which will certainly generate a lot of interest among the Bangladesh fans keeping the local connect in mind. A lot of fans are expected to travel from Dhaka and it's surrounding towns to watch the match, a first in Kolkata. I believe that they will pay heed to our president's request if the situation demands," another BCCI official said.
In case Bangladesh forfeits, the ICC will award the Test series to India who will get 120 points.